I chose this lesson because one of my favorite things about music is how it can tell a story. I think this aspect of music is often ignored in favor of teaching "musical" elements (i.e. rhythm, melody, harmony). Some people refer to the story-telling aspects of music and backstory as "non-musical" elements. I believe these components of composition are just as important. To call them "non-musical" is to not understand that music is made in specific contexts by different people living in different contexts. A dispassionate analysis is only a part of the picture. In order to implement this value of music, this lesson plan not only utilizes musical instruments, but technological instruments as well.
It uses specific programs and perfectly ties together music and technology within a classroom setting.
There's also literacy involved. Students develop a key understanding of music literacy. They are not just knowing what the musical words are and how to read them, but knowing what these words mean and how to speak them. They can then use this knowledge and draw parallels to traditional english language literacy.
Technology is necessary for this lesson, unless in the off chance you had the money to pay a bunch of live musicians to create the same effect as Bandleader. The interactivity of bandleader is the important part though. Students get to discover by themselves what putting different instruments in different roles will do to the ensemble. They have their own choice. This is an excellent example of using technology in the classroom because it doesn't just use a projector, calculator or another basic technology to help the lesson. This lesson wouldn't be possible or as meaningful without this technology. It is great "as is" and does not need to be modified.
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